The groundbreaking ceremony of the SMJK Kuching High’s new school gate was successfully held last Sunday at the school itself.
Hosted by the Ex-Highians’ (SMJK Kuching High Alumni) Association Kuching, the ceremony was well attended by the management team and members of the Kuching Teochew Association, the school’s board of management, Parents-Teachers Association, Ex- Highians’ Association Kuching.
The principal, teachers, staff, students and alumni as well as the public participated in the event as well. Pauline Gan Guet Beng, the chairperson of the Ex-Highians’ Association Kuching said: “SMJK Kuching High, since its establishment in 1963, has gone through the phenomenon of wear and tear.
The school experienced a fire destruction 10 years ago. Its redevelopment project was fully completed in 2015. However, the existing school gate, as a contrast to the new buildings, looks very rundown and does not meet the Bomba requirement.
“Therefore, the Ex-Highians’ Association Kuching has initiated the school gate rebuilding project since year 2015. The new school gate, named the ‘Gate of Alumni’ will definitely change the outlook of the school and benefit students for the coming generations. “The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone for the school as the construction work to replace the current school gate with the new school gate starts soon after this.
The Ex-Highians’ Association Kuching is very pleased as the actual work can finally take place after planning for a period of time.” Upon request by the Association, Singapore-bound architect Png Siak Kheng, who is also an ex-Highian, was involved in designing the new school gate without any charges.
Besides, the structure drawing was contributed by ex-Highian Francis Wee Boon Liang, the structure engineering of the project. The structure design, which is the wave form arch, symbolises good talents from the school being nurtured in continuous manner.
The tip of the two wave forms being purposely not meeting each other, is intended to create a dynamic feeling and symbolises the dynamic spirit of the school. The Gate of Alumni is not merely a gate, but an architecture, which carries values that the Association would like fellow Highians to adhere.The new school gate’s outlook reminds Highians to be brave, positive, creative and innovative but not to avoid problems, conservative and stubborn in attending and resolving issues.
Yeo Eng Chung, the project leader stated, “The Gate of Alumni requires funding to get it rolling despite complimentary architecture design, quantity survey and civil consultation provided by various parties. the Association has received numerous contributions from ex-Highians, especially during the Ex-Highians’ Dinner in 2014, Back to School Charity Sales and When the Bell Rings 5K Run in 2015.”
A total of RM 120,000.00 has been raised for the project. Lam Lee Onn (alumnus of SMJK Kuching High) from Path Advertising will contribute signage to the gate worth of RM20,000. However, the construction fund is still far behind the target.”
With that, the Association welcomes contributions and donations from ex-Highians and the public. Should anyone is keen, contact Pauline Gan at 012-8833868 or Yeo Eng Chung at 019-8182123.
